Abstract
A field study was conducted to explore the production potential of diversified forage sorghum-based intercropping
systems under different intercropping patterns for two consecutive years. The intercropping systems comprised
sorghum alone; sorghum + mungbean; sorghum + clusterbean; sorghum + cpwpea and sorghum + sesbania. The
planting patterns were 30 cm spaced single rows, 30 × 30 cm cross planting with intercrop, 45 cm spaced doublerow strips (15/45 cm) and 75 cm spaced four row strips. The two-year average data revealed that planting
patterns have significant effect on mixed dry & green forage yield. The maximum mixed forage dry matter yield
and mixed green forage yield of 24.5 and 68.8 t ha-1 were recorded in the planting pattern of 45 cm spaced double
row strips. Forage legume intercropping systems reduced the dry and green fodder yield of sorghum, however,
the additional harvest of each intercrop compensated more than the loss in forage sorghum yield. Of the
intercropping systems, sorghum + cowpea and sorghum + sesbania in the pattern of 45 cm spaced double-row
strips proved to be feasible, adoptable, more productive and with high quality nutritious forage and were found to
be superior to all other intercropping systems and planting patterns under study.
